punda
The Swahili word for donkey is punda.
The term refers to the domestic animal known as a donkey or an ass.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
Did you know?
- While punda is the standard word for donkey, in some coastal regions of East Africa, the animal is occasionally associated with the Arabic term hmar, reflecting the deep influence of trade and migration from the Arabian Peninsula.
- Because punda belongs to the A-WA noun class used for humans and animals, it shares the same grammatical prefix as the word for 'person' (mtu).
- In Swahili culture, the image of a punda is sometimes used in metaphors to describe a person who is blindly obedient to an unfair boss or leader.
Examples in context
- Mamlaka ambayo ni ya simba sio ya punda.The authority that belongs to the lion does not belong to the donkey.This sentence shows the word punda used in a metaphorical comparison regarding authority.Tatoeba #10858328 by ecorralest101, translation #3199122 by Theocracy
- Karibu Unguja! Kuna wanyama wengi hapa, kama punda.Welcome to Unguja! There are many animals here, like donkeys.
- Punda huyu ni mzito sana.This donkey is very heavy.
- Nimenunua punda mpya leo.I bought a new donkey today.
Example conversation
Said and Fatuma are at a local market.
- SaidJe, unaona punda yule?Do you see that donkey?
- FatumaNdiyo, punda huyo ni mzuri.Yes, that donkey is beautiful.
- SaidNataka kumnunulia Fatuma punda.I want to buy a donkey for Fatuma.
- FatumaAsante sana, Said.Thank you very much, Said.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “donkey” translations and entries punda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
